About Mediate PDX

About Me:

My name is Alex Tillson. I went to college in Portland, and moved back a few years after graduation. Since entering the world of mediation, I have come to recognize that mediation is a really engaging combination of my skills, experience and passions.

​I have a Master's in Psychology, which gives me the background knowledge I need to succeed in interest-based mediation. I have worked in a family law firm for 8 years, which has provided me with enormous amounts of hands-on experience dealing with domestic relations disputes, including divorce, separation, custody, parenting time, child and spousal support, same-sex dissolutions, modifications, property disputes and more. I have the knowledge and experience to help you understand the legal process that is often associated with the mediation process. Finally, I have been involved in coaching for most of my adult life. I view coaching as an exercise in communication, dispute resolution and teamwork, as well as an opportunity to work with people to make the best out of whatever situation they're in.

All of these bits of background - the coaching, the law firm and the Psychology experience are elements that help me be an effective mediator.

Now What?

The first step is to have a FREE phone consultation with me. We'll talk about your situation, the process, fees, and identify whether we think mediation will be a good fit for you given your dispute.

Then we find a time to schedule the mediation with you, me, and the other party. I can call the other party, or you can arrange with them to find a good time to meet.

Next, we sit down and work on finding a way through the issue at hand that all parties agree to voluntarily.

Finally, if we come to an agreement, either in part or in full, I will write it up for your signature, at which point it can be either submitted to the court, held like a contract by the parties, or whatever it is that best serves the needs of your case.

What does​mediation cost?

It helps to compare hiring a mediator to handle domestic relations cases to hiring an attorney. Attorneys will often cost between $5,000 and $10,000 for EACH PARTY! In particularly contentious cases, or with some attorneys, the total cost for a divorce can be over $100,000.

This can be ruinous, especially at a time where families are trying to set up a new living situation and to get themselves stabilized.

By comparison, a mediated divorce can often be completed for somewhere between $1,000 and $2,500. This includes up to 4 sessions of mediation and time to complete the documents involved in the divorce process. This varies, of course. Some are significantly less expensive and some are a bit more, but that range usually covers most cases.

Cases that do not involve a divorce are more variable and therefore harder to estimate. I charge $165/hr, and would be happy to discuss how long I think things will take in our initial consultation or at any point along the process.